2022 Scholarships

2022 National DHIA Scholarship Recipients Maggie Cronk, Henning, MN Barry and Janine Cronk Animal Science/Pre-Vet at North Dakota State University A high school class valedictorian, Maggie Cronk participated in choir, National Honor Society and Knowledge Bowl, and served as stage director for school musicals and as yearbook assistant editor. She was the East Otter Tail County Dairy Princess. At North Dakota State University, Maggie’s activities include Saddle & Sirloin Club, Pre-Vet Club and Bison Dairy Club (BDC). For BDC, she is the treasurer and Ag in the Classroom co-chair.

With the goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian, Maggie has worked at two animal clinics. Duties ranged from scheduling appointments to restraining animals to assisting with surgeries by monitoring vitals and handing tools to the veterinarian performing the surgery.

Justyne Frisle, Prairie Farm, WI Dean and Leslie Frisle Dairy Science at University of Wisconsin-Madison As a 4-H member, Justyne Frisle topped (overall and oral reasons) the North American International Livestock Exposition Dairy Judging Contest and was named the Barron County Fair Outstanding Exhibitor and Barron County Fair Supreme Champion in Showmanship. Her high school activities included Family, Career and Community Leadership of America (president and parliamentary procedure team), FFA (reporter, vice president and co-president), forensics, softball, basketball, volleyball, National Honor Society and Pep Club. Justyne is a member of Youth for Christ, serving as treasurer. This group prepares and presents worship services.

Clara Thompson, Plainview, MN Donny and Holly Thompson Animal Science/Pre-Vet at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minnesota DHIA Both the Agriculture Department and English Department MVP, Clara Thompson excels in leadership, dairy bowl and dairy judging. For FFA, she served as president, vice president and Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management coach. Also, Clara acts as a Minnesota Junior Holstein Association director and 4-H club president. In 2017, her team won the Minnesota Junior Holstein Intermediate Quiz Bowl and in 2020, her 4-H team won the Regional Dairy Project Bowl. For dairy judging, she placed fourth overall in the 2021 Minnesota 4-H Dairy Judging Contest and eighth overall at the North American International Livestock Exposition.

2022 National DHIA Veterinary Student Scholarship Recipients Fredrick Mansfield, Kerkhoven, MN University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Fredrick Mansfield grew up in Kerkhoven, Minn., and started showing beef cattle as a third grader. For him, 4-H played a key role in developing his production animal management and handling skills. Additionally, Mansfield’s high school animal science class inspired him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. As an undergraduate, he participated in Gopher Dairy Club, Block and Bridle, livestock judging and NAIDC, and belonged to Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. This spring, Mansfield will earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. He credits much of his success to understanding and using DHI data. For example, as a “Dairy Challenge” contestant, he (along with his teammates) used DHI data and cow flow observations to evaluate a dairy farm. They noticed that one group was experiencing subpar reproductive performance. The team recommended swapping the breeding pen from an outdoor dry lot with the late-lactation pregnant cow pen, which included fans and sprinklers. This recommendation helped Mansfield’s Dairy Challenge team become the champions of their division.